Major Leaguer Kidnapped, Freed in Venezuela

Venezuelan authorities on Friday ordered a dramatic aerial rescue of a kidnapped native who plays in U.S. Major League Baseball.

By Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu

First Publish: 11/12/2011, 10:24 PM

Venezuelan authorities ordered a dramatic aerial rescue on Friday of a kidnapped native who plays in U.S. Major League Baseball.

Justice Minister Tareck El Aissami said police arrested three men after Washington Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos was rescued two days after he was kidnapped. Ramos was “safe and sound” after being "found alive by security forces in mountainous zone,” the country’s information minster said via Twitter.

The government did not release details of the kidnapping of Ramos, a native of Valencia.

Armed men seized Ramos at gunpoint Wednesday night outside his home, according to the Washington Post. The kidnappers had used a stolen SUV, which was found abandoned in a nearby town.

Kidnapping for ransom has been become more rampant in Brazil, Venezuela and other Latin American countries. At least two relatives of major league baseball players have been killed in previous kidnappings, the Washington newspaper reported.